Published On 25 Aug 2026
Tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees gathered in the overcrowded camps of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, to protest against deteriorating living conditions and mark the ninth anniversary of their forced exodus from neighboring Myanmar.
The more than 1.2 million Rohingya refugees, who reside across approximately 30 camps that form the world’s largest refugee settlement in southeastern Bangladesh, are demanding a safe and dignified return to their ancestral homes in Rakhine State, Myanmar.
In a demonstration held on Tuesday, protesters appealed to the international community to guarantee security in Rakhine, commemorating the event as the “ninth anniversary of the Rohingya Genocide Day.”
The United Council of Rohingya (UCR), a prominent refugee advocacy group, stated that the rally was organized to remember the atrocities committed during the 2017 crackdown and to highlight the ongoing humanitarian crisis facing the displaced population.
Most of the refugees fled Myanmar in a massive exodus in 2017 following a military-led crackdown in Rakhine State, which was launched in response to attacks by an armed insurgent group.
The Bangladeshi government has previously attempted to initiate repatriation efforts at least twice. However, these initiatives stalled as refugees refused to return, citing severe security concerns and the lack of guarantees regarding their safety in Myanmar. Dhaka has consistently stated that it will not force anyone to return against their will.
Earlier this month, Myanmar’s military junta announced that over 300,000 individuals currently living in Bangladeshi camps are former residents of Rakhine State and expressed willingness to accept their return once security conditions are met.
However, Bangladesh has contested these figures and strongly criticized the junta’s continued refusal to use the term “Rohingya,” instead labeling them as “Bengali.” Dhaka views this terminology as a deliberate attempt to deny the ethnic group’s identity and their fundamental right to return to Rakhine State.